Huí Guāng Fǎn Zhào - 回光返照

Chapter 8 - Return to Conglong Valley

Gao Guiren and Jiang Yuming were dropped unceremoniously in a rice field. Water instantly filled Gao Guiren's mouth and he began to choke for air. In a panic, he let go of Jiang Yuming. Xianshi landed not two far away from them. Gao Guiren stood up from the water in the paddy and took a look at their surroundings.

The terraced rice fields were built into the base of a mountain that bracketed Conglong Valley in a gentle slope. At the very bottom of the terraced rice fields was the back courtyards of Conglong Valley's living quarters. They had landed in the back mountains of the school and not a soul was in sight.

Realizing that Jiang Yuming had not moved since they landed, Gao Guiren looked over only to see that the water around him was dyed a reddish hue. The rice surrounding Jiang Yuming was quickly drawing up the blood and escaping qi, slowly rising from their crushed state. Wading over, Gao Guiren quickly pulled Jiang Yuming up dragging him towards the edge of the paddy.

There was some moss covered rock on the edge of the patty, and Gao Guiren laid Jiang Yuming down. He searched through his storage ring for the Fire Silkworm Mucus only to come up empty and began to panic before laying eyes on the moss. Gao Guiren grabbed on to the edge of the moss, ripping off a section and wrapped it around Jiang Yuming's bleeding arm, the moss would help the wound clot and stop the bleeding. Ripping part of his robe, Gao Guiren pulled a strip off to tie the moss around Jiang Yuming's arm.

With the external wound being treated, Gao Guiren reached over to feel Jiang Yuming's pulse and check for any internal injuries. However, before he could proceed any further, Gao Guiren felt the cold blade of a sword at his neck.

"Cutie, turn around for this sister." A voice demanded from behind him.

Slowly, Gao Guiren turned around. The smiling face of his shijie, Bai Lihua greeted him, her sword Xiaqu was pointed at his throat.

"Eh, what a cute little mouse we caught in our fields." Bai Lihua said, her gaze devouring Gao Guiren's face.

"Shijie, what should we do with them?" A voice said as they stepped forward. Gao Guiren recognized them as Lin Yuan, the younger of the Lin twins, his older shixiong.

"Shijie, Shixiong, it's me, Xu Xianliang.' Gao Guiren stated, cutting to the chase. He didn't know if Jiang Yuming could last any longer if he didn't get real medical attention.

"If you are Xu Xianliang, then I am a fairy goddess from the heavens." Bai Lihua stated, her sword drawing closer to his throat, forcing Gao Guire to look up at her.

"Shijie, this gentleman, does kind of look like Xiao Liang." Lin Yuan said, walking around and staring at Gao Guiren.

"Shijie, back when Conglong Valley hosted Ziyun Peak's direct disciples for a few days, there was an incident where Zhou-jie thought someone was peeking at her while she was bathing and---"

A hand quickly covered his mouth, as Bai Lihua's face turned pale. Perhaps this was indeed their missing shidi, Xu Xianliang, "You promised me that you would take that secret to the grave."

"Shijie, what is he talking about?"

"Nothing, nothing, nothing, notify Shizun that we have guests." Bai Lihua said. Although Xu Xianliang had left over 50 years ago, this gentleman only looked a few parts like him. At best, this could be Xu Xianliang and at worst it was a scam.

"I'll inform Shizun right away." Lin Yuan said, retreating from the group and down the slope.

"Thank you shijie." Gao Guiren said, reaching forward to lower Xiaqu from his throat.

"Don't thank me just yet, who knows if you are really Xiao Liang." Bai Lihua said, withdrawing her sword.

Gao Guiren stood up, lifting Jiang Yuming's slumbering body into his arms. He tried to summon over Xianshi, only to feel that whatever connection that was previously there was now gone. With no other alternative, he could only hobble over to grab the sword out of the ground.